Bowden: Nats likely to 'turn the page' on Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper left the door open to staying with the Nationals, but the club's former GM Jim Bowden isn't buying it.

"In all likelihood, the Nationals are ready to turn the page with the outfield already set without him (Harper) next year with Adam Eaton in right field, Victor Robles in center, and Juan Soto in left," Bowden said Tuesday on CBS Sports HQ.

The Washington Post's Chelsea Janes believes the Nats could accommodate all of those players on the roster.

"I think there's a realistic chance that you consider moving Soto to first, or I guess Bryce, too," Janes told The Sports Junkies Wednesday. "I've heard them say that they'd be willing to think about Soto there, just because the numbers play, right? You never want to move someone to a position where their offensive numbers don't still make them a plus player."

Bowden remarked that Harper and Nationals GM Mike Rizzo have both left the door open for a possible return, but that may not be more than lip service.

"Realistically we're hearing from ownership that they are not prepared to spend the kind of money or commit the years it's going to take to keep Harper, and in all likelihood he will be gone," Bowden said.

Teams that Bowden believes are potential suitors for the Nats' superstar are the usual suspects: Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies, and Braves.